The One Pregnancy Tip That Changes Everything
Don’t Skip Childbirth Education
Why This Pregnancy Tip Matters More Than the Rest
Pregnancy is full of advice. From your aunt who swears by pineapple to induce labor, to strangers in the grocery store telling you how you’re “carrying,” everyone has a hot tip. But here’s the truth: the single most important pregnancy tip that will change the trajectory of your birth experience isn’t about what to eat, what lotion to use, or what kind of stroller to buy.
It’s this: Don’t skip childbirth education.
I’ve been a birth doula and childbirth educator since 2015, and I can tell you that the clients who prepare for their birth through education approach labor with more confidence, make clearer decisions, and navigate unexpected turns with far less stress than those who try to “wing it.” Birth is not just another day. Preparing for it matters.
What Most Parents Prepare For vs. What They Actually Need
When you’re expecting a baby, it’s easy to get caught up in all the fun “stuff.”
Picking the perfect nursery paint color.
Washing those impossibly tiny onesies.
Stockpiling swaddles like you’re opening a boutique.
These things are sweet, and yes, they matter. But here’s the secret no one tells you: your baby doesn’t care about the nursery. What your baby does care about is how they arrive earthside — and how prepared you are for that moment.
Parents often spend hours comparing car seats but barely any time learning how their body works in labor, what their medical options are, or how to advocate for themselves in a hospital setting. That’s like planning the perfect baby shower but forgetting to pack your hospital bag.
Childbirth Education: Your Greatest Tool in Pregnancy
Childbirth education is not about memorizing obscure medical terms or learning how to be “perfect” in labor. It’s about understanding:
Your anatomy and how your body was designed to birth.
Pain relief options, both medicated and unmedicated.
Interventions — what they are, when they’re useful, and when they might not be.
Comfort measures — breathing, movement, massage, water, and more.
Decision-making tools that help you navigate the unexpected
When you take a childbirth education class (especially one that isn’t taught by your hospital), you’ll hear perspectives that aren’t colored by institutional policy. Instead, you’ll learn your choices and how to make the ones that align with your values.
Why “Winging It” Isn’t a Strategy
I’ve heard so many parents say, “We’ll just see how it goes.” But here’s the thing: would you run a marathon without training? Would you show up for a final exam without studying? Would you get behind the wheel of a car without knowing the rules of the road?
Birth is a physical, emotional, and mental event that deserves preparation. “Winging it” often leads to fear, confusion, and regret.
As a doula, I’ve seen parents look back and say, “I wish I had known my options. I wish I had been better prepared.” Education gives you the gift of fewer “I wish I hads.”
The BRAINS Acronym: A Sneak Peek of Decision-Making in Labor
One of the tools I teach in my childbirth education course is the BRAINS acronym. It’s a framework for making informed decisions when your provider suggests an intervention:
Benefits – What are the benefits?
Risks – What are the risks?
Alternatives – What are the alternatives?
Intuition – What does your gut tell you?
Nothing – What happens if we do nothing right now?
Support – Who can support me in this decision?
It’s simple, but it works. When you’re in the intensity of labor, this acronym helps you slow down, breathe, and make a choice you won’t regret.
👉 Free Resource: I’ve created a printable BRAINS Decision-Making Guide you can keep in your hospital bag. Click the button below to start practicing informed decision-making before labor even begins.
How Childbirth Education Boosts Your Birth Experience
Education doesn’t guarantee a “perfect” birth. But it does transform the way you feel about your experience.
Physiologically: Studies show that people who take childbirth classes have lower rates of unnecessary interventions and cesareans. They’re also more likely to use comfort measures effectively.
Emotionally: Birth is intense. When you know what to expect, fear takes a back seat and confidence takes the wheel.
For partners: Childbirth education gives your partner clear ways to support you. Instead of feeling like a deer in headlights, they know how to apply counter pressure, speak up when you need space, and advocate alongside you.
Preparedness changes the narrative. Instead of “I didn’t know what was happening,” you get to say, “I knew my options, I made choices that felt right, and I felt supported.”
Common Myths About Childbirth Education (Busted)
Myth 1: “It’s only for people who want unmedicated birth.”
Nope. Childbirth education covers all options, including epidurals, inductions, and cesareans.
Myth 2: “I can just Google everything.”
Google can’t hold your hand, answer your questions in real time, or sort the evidence-based information from the noise.
Myth 3: “My provider will tell me what I need to know.”
Providers are important, but they often don’t have time to teach. Their role is different from that of an educator.
Myth 4: “It’s too late in pregnancy to take a class.”
It’s never too late. Even a crash course before birth equips you with tools and knowledge.
👉 Want more myth-busting, evidence-based tips? You’ll get calm, practical advice delivered straight to your inbox.
Why Online Childbirth Education Fits Every Schedule
Many parents skip classes because they feel too busy, too tired, or unable to make weekly in-person sessions. That’s where online childbirth education changes the game.
With my course, Your Birth, Your Options: Make Informed Choices with Confidence, you get:
A self-paced format (watch at midnight in your PJs if you want).
Short, digestible lessons so you’re not overwhelmed.
9 months of access so you can rewatch during early labor.
Practical tools, not fluff.
👉 My course, Your Birth, Your Options, will help you prepare for labor on your own terms.
How a Doula Complements Childbirth Education
Here’s where I wear both hats: childbirth educator and doula. The two go hand in hand.
Childbirth education gives you knowledge, strategies, and confidence.
Doula support gives you continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during the actual event.
Even if you’re taking my course, having a doula in your corner means you have someone who knows your birth preferences and can help you navigate them in real time.
If you’re in Columbus, Ohio (or nearby), I’d love to talk with you about doula support for your birth. Schedule a free discovery call here.
Putting This Pregnancy Tip into Action Today
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: don’t skip childbirth education.
The nursery can wait. The swaddles will be washed. But preparing for the moment you meet your baby — and how you’ll feel about it for the rest of your life — is worth every second.
So here are your next steps:
Download the free BRAINS printable here to start practicing informed decision-making.
Subscribe to my newsletter here for monthly tips on pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Join my online childbirth course, Your Birth, Your Options and prepare to navigate birth with clarity and confidence.
Birth is unpredictable, but preparation changes everything. And this one pregnancy tip? It might just be the most important one you ever take.
